Jehovah's Witness Funeral Songs: Which Kingdom Songs Are Used

Only Kingdom Songs Are Permitted

If a Jehovah's Witness funeral is held at the Kingdom Hall, the only music allowed comes from the congregation's official songbook: "Sing Out Joyfully" to Jehovah. No secular favorites. No classical funeral marches. No traditional hymns from other denominations like "Amazing Grace" or "How Great Thou Art." The restriction applies to both live singing and recorded music.

This rule exists because Witnesses view music from other religious traditions as spiritually contaminated — rooted in what they call false religion. Secular songs, even those with broadly spiritual themes, are excluded from the place of worship because they celebrate worldly philosophies rather than Jehovah's purposes.

Common Funeral Selections

Families choose one or two Kingdom songs to open and close the service. The selection is coordinated with the officiating elder, who may suggest options that pair well with the S-32-E discourse themes. Here are the most commonly used:

Song 151: "He Will Call" Based on Job 14:13–15, this song directly addresses God's desire to resurrect the dead. The lyrics express confidence that Jehovah will call the deceased back from death, which makes it the most popular funeral choice. Its emotional weight connects the congregation's grief to the resurrection hope.

Song 139: "See Yourself When All Is New" Rooted in Revelation 21:1–5, this song invites listeners to visualize life in the future paradise earth — a world without death, pain, or sorrow. It's forward-looking and hopeful, offering comfort through the promise of restoration rather than focusing on loss.

Song 140: "Life Without End — At Last!" Tied to John 3:16, this song celebrates the promise of everlasting physical life. Its uplifting tone provides a contrast to the solemnity of the memorial talk and often serves as the closing song.

Song 111: "Our Reasons for Joy" Drawing on Philippians 4:4, this song encourages maintaining joy despite trials. It's less commonly used at funerals than the three above but works well when the deceased was known for a particularly positive, resilient spirit.

Song 134: "Children Are a Trust From God" Based on Psalm 127:3–5, this song is specifically chosen when the memorial service is for a child. It speaks to God's care for families and the sacredness of children, providing comfort to parents in an impossibly painful situation.

Song 19: "The Lord's Evening Meal" This song references the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ (Luke 22:19), which Witnesses teach is the legal basis for the resurrection. It's sometimes selected to reinforce the doctrinal foundation of the hope being presented.

What About Services at a Funeral Home?

When the memorial service takes place at a funeral home rather than the Kingdom Hall, the elder's talk still follows the same S-32-E structure. Music before and after the talk is expected to be instrumental arrangements of Kingdom songs — played softly as background, not performed.

If the family wants to include personal music — a favorite song of the deceased, for example — that would need to happen during a separate private gathering, not during the elder's portion of the service.

Scriptures Read During the Service

The musical selections complement a standardized set of scripture readings woven through the talk. Key passages include:

• Genesis 3:19 — the origin of human death
• Ecclesiastes 9:5 — the dead are conscious of nothing
• Romans 5:12 — how death entered through Adam
• John 5:28–29 — the promise of resurrection
• Job 14:14–15 — God's yearning to bring back the dead
• 1 Corinthians 15:54–57 — death swallowed up in victory

All readings come from the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, the Watchtower's preferred Bible translation.

For a complete planning resource that covers song selection, scripture references, and every other element of a Jehovah's Witness funeral, the Jehovah's Witness Funeral Guide walks through the process step by step.